Spring Break pt. 1: Heidelberg, Salzberg and the Bavarian Alps

In April, Louise and I decided to use Spring Break as a great opportunity to explore more of Germany, since we've been here for over 6 months already. So we headed south - on the Deutsche Bahn (the train)!!! With Munich in mind, we first stopped in Heidelberg to see it's famed castle on the River Neckar. It was really quite a charming and adorable city that I hope to visit for a longer period of time. 

Lovely Louise 

Heidelberg castle ruins

We proceeded to spend 5 days in the Munich area, taking one day trip to Salzburg, Austria (Mozart's home and the setting of The Sound of Music - those quaint rolling hills WERE alive!). And we saw MARIA Rainer!!! Oh the joy!



The next day we took a trip through the Alps to see 2 famous castles of the former Bavarian King Ludwig - Neuschwanstein and Linderhof. These castles were absolutely spectacular and I fully endorse your visit to them, especially Neuschwanstein (translation: new+swan+castle) because a.) it was the inspiration for Walt Disney's magic kingdom, and b.) it is CRAZY - the man was obsessed with swans! They're everywhere in that castle!!) 

Linderhof - inspired by the Sun King and French monarch Louis XIV. 

Gold and gaudy. 

The hall of mirrors was the best room ("1 million lights")

And here we have... Neuschwanstein!

They did not allow photos inside, sadly. 

I enjoyed a König Ludwig Dunkel, a deep-brown or sepia colored all barley lager named after the crazy King. This beer was deliciously rich and nutty, gave off a mild vanilla sweetness on the tongue, and finished dry, and clean without any harsh hops or overt fruitiness.